Bionic bra tightens based on breast jiggle

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As the battle rages between fashion and comfort, finding the perfect blend of the two often requires a fair amount of work — especially when undergarments are concerned. Boxers or briefs? Granny panties or thong? Sports bra or Victoria’s Secret? Looking good or feeling good? If you choose the latter for your upper undergarment — or care about your girlfriend or wife’s comfort — the University of Wollongong in Australia has a solution: a bionic bra that automatically adjusts itself based on the movement of the breasts cradled within.

The bra, which has been in development for over 15 years, definitely doesn’t adhere to form over function, as it looks more like a bulletproof vest than a bra. The bra is made of newly created fibers that, when knitted into a garment and coupled with actuators, can sense how the breasts move, and adjust themselves accordingly. Ramping up speed on the elliptical? The bra will sense the motion and tighten. Leaning back in your office chair? The bra will give you some breathing room.

Though the Wollongong team admits kinks have to be worked out, the proof-of-concept works, and designers will be brought in to make sure the bra is both aesthetically pleasing and comfortable. Furthermore, the current components aren’t able to be washed in a machine — and the team doesn’t expect all of them to be in the final version either — so designers will have their hands full. For now, though, the concept more or less works.

Assuming bionic mishaps wouldn’t take place, any person would love underwear that automatically adjusts itself so he or she wouldn’t have to sneak in a manual adjustment when no one’s looking. This bionic bra seems to be the first step toward that comfortable utopia.